The Ministers and other Heads of Delegation of the Caribbean Small Island States present at the UNESCO Inter-Ministerial Conference on Biosphere Reserves in the Caribbean Small Island States Tools for sustainable development and growth, in St. Kitts & Nevis, 27 March 2013, agreed upon a : 1.1 CARIBBEAN SMALL ISLAND STATES ACTION PLAN 1.2 Beneficiary Countries St. Kitts & Nevis Jamaica Curacao Dominica St. Vincent and the Grenadines Grenada Barbados St. Lucia St. Maarten Bahamas Antigua and Barbuda Trinidad and Tobago 1.3 Time Frame Three years 1.11 Executive Summary This Action Plan has as main objectives: a) the creation of a network of Biosphere Reserves in the Caribbean Small Islands States and, b) the promotion of Biosphere Reserves as tools for innovative projects bringing added value to the local socio-economical activities. 1
Biosphere Reserves, while promoting the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, are also living laboratories where conservation and sustainable use of natural resources can be demonstrated. Thus, benefiting from the unique features of Biosphere Reserves, local populations, governments and other stakeholders will work together in the creation of new products and services contributing to the growth of local income streams. The Biosphere Reserves will serve as drivers for the conservation of the natural, social and cultural values and the sustainable use of these resources at the service of the welfare of the populations. The first objective will be achieved by a set of organized actions including guidance and technical assistance in choosing the appropriate locations for the establishment of new Biosphere Reserves in those countries that still don t have any Biosphere Reserve. This includes revision of former initiatives towards the creation of Biosphere Reserves as well as the organization of several initiatives promoting the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, under UNESCO s MAB programme, in order to increase awareness and participation in the process of the creation of new Biosphere Reserves in the Caribbean Small Islands States. In those islands that have already Biosphere Reserves (St. Kitts & Nevis), special attention will be given to the implementation of their management plans and supporting activities to assure the kick-off of the existing Biosphere Reserves. The existing and new Biosphere Reserves should integrate themselves with the local/national sustainable development plans. The second objective aims the identification of specific initiatives, which can be developed by the Biosphere Reserves leading to the creation of new products, services and employment based on the conservation and sustainable use of the natural resources in each participating State. This objective includes actions like the identification of relevant sectors, products, services and actors that will shape the individual projects. Examples of possible projects might be: 2
- Selection of local products/services (agriculture, fisheries, handcraft, tourism, etc), which may be certified by the Biosphere Reserve as special products (sustainable) and the re-positioning of these products in the market; - Training of local auditors for implementing the normative requirements in the local productive processes as well as working on the certification/validation auditing; - Formatting tourism itineraries and programmes based on the local natural, cultural and historical features, to be promoted as Biosphere Reserve s activities - Identification of research activities to be based in the Biosphere Reserves attracting the international research community and promoting the cooperation with the local research institutions - Launching awareness and training initiatives related with the Biosphere Reserves oriented to different key-actors and stakeholders International and regional meetings (intergovernmental, scientific community, managers of Biosphere Reserves, stakeholders, etc.) will act a forum assuring the functioning of the future network of the Caribbean Small Island States Biosphere Reserves. UNESCO will provide technical and institutional support for the Action Plan in close cooperation with the national authorities and will try to raise extrabudgetary funding for the establishment of new biosphere reserves, and for further development of existing sites. The Action Plan will have duration of 3 years, starting with a first international (Ministerial) event to be held in St. Kitts & Nevis (March, 2013) with the aim of launching the Action Plan and starting the process of the creation of Biosphere Reserves in all Caribbean Small Islands States. The second and part of the third year will be devoted to the development and completion of the application dossiers of the new Biosphere Reserves and the specific projects identified for each Biosphere Reserve During the third year the Action Plan will be concluded and disseminated 3
through the integration of all information in a publication (book) to be launched during an international ministerial event. SECTION II BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION 2.1. Background/Context In 1992, the IberoAmerican Network has been created in order to promote the cooperation of countries within the MAB Programme and particularly through the international network of biosphere reserves. However, mainly due to language problems, English speaking Small Island States of the Caribbean have not been able to integrate into this network. In consequence, most of these States have not established up to now their own biosphere reserves. In December 2003 took place in Portsmouth, Commonwealth of Dominica, in the premises of the Cabrits National Park, the First Man and the Biosphere Caribbean Sub-Regional Conference. One of the main recommendations of this Conference was the creation of biosphere reserves in the Caribbean and the launching of a network composed of these sites. The present Action Plan is a follow-to to this Conference and aims at providing support to the creation of at least one biosphere reserve in each Caribbean country and consequently the launching of a network. 2.2 Objectives 4
1. To promote and support the creation of a network of Biosphere Reserves in the Caribbean Island States. 2. To use Biosphere Reserves to develop demonstrative projects for alternative socioeconomic activities based on the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources 3. To implement best practices projects in each of the participant countries demonstrating the contribution of Biosphere Reserves on the conservation and sustainable use of natural and social resources 4. To enhance public awareness of the importance of Biosphere reserves as tools for the sustainable development 5. To provide a basis for developing educational activities for school-level students enabling them to understand the interface between the bio-environment, natural resources and the importance of their preservation and their sustainable use. 6. To identify from best practice elsewhere opportunities to transform biosphere sites into centres of entrepreneurial excellence, resulting in responsible income-generating activities. 2.3 Justification Following the objectives of this Action Plan, its justification emanates from an urgent need for this concept in the Caribbean in order to assist with coping with the challenges of climate change, sea-level rise, alleviation of poverty and sustainable development for citizens. The concept of biosphere reserves in the Caribbean is an integrative tool to help face these challenges. Some of the countries have already shown great interest in this concept and are already applying it; however, most of these countries need to receive the appropriate training, awareness and financial support for applying the concept 5
SECTION III LOGFRAME MATRIX Narrative summary Verifiable indicators Means of verification Assumptions and Risks Overall Objective To create a network of Biosphere Reserves in the Caribbean Small island States Applications of new Biosphere Reserves presented to UNESCO MAB programme Applications finished and presented Assumptions of existence of interest and political will. Availability of human and financial resources to implement the Action Plan Availability of technical assistance Action Plan purpose Use Biosphere Reserves as a tool for promoting new socio-economic activities based on the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources Expected results Identification and proposal of areas for nomination as a BR Organization of international (including ministerial) meetings Identification and implementation of individual projects Publication of a book including the description of the BR and projects developed Creation of a Caribbean Small Island States Network of Biosphere Reserve Community ownership and consensus of project established Best practices for sustainable conservation and management developed and disseminated through international events. Increase awareness and participation Activities Review of the current existing initiatives under the MAB programme Organization of an international meeting at ministerial level Set up of MAB committees and/or focal points at national level Implementation of individual projects in each participating country Number of people involved Employment and income generated by the Action Plan Sites identified and number of stakeholders who endorse the nomination proposals Number of meetings organized and attendance Governments and communities actively involved in the process of creating the Biosphere Reserves Books and reports produced Selection and implementation of projects Number of stakeholders involved Contacts and information obtained from National MAB Committees Number of governments participating in the ministerial meeting Follow up of the projects implemented Documents for BR nomination prepared with stakeholder endorsement Reports/Minutes of meetings documented and disseminated to relevant stakeholders Practices documented resulting from the projects Book publication Agreement achieved by the governments on the creation of the Network Information to be produced by National MAB committees Documentation/ reports and minutes of meetings Individual project reports Application forms for new BR Assumptions of existence of interest and political will. Availability of human and financial resources to implement the projects Availability of technical assistance Governments and community members will embrace and apply the MAB concept in the form of BR Availability of human and financial resources to implement the projects All relevant stakeholders will be identified and consulted Availability of funds to support MAB committees Availability of technical assistance Assumptions of existence of interest and political will. Availability of sufficient funds. Availability of human resources and means. Availability of technical assistance 6
Identification of potential areas to be designated as BR Organization of individual projects Follow up and technical assistance Preparation of stakeholder consultations introducing the MAB concept and propose areas for designation. Development of the application forms Book preparation and publication Number of stakeholders involved Number of new BR proposed Number of projects implemented Book publication Book published 7
SECTION IV DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITIES 4.1 Detailed activities The Action Plan activities can be grouped into the following four broad components: I. Preparation and presentation of new Biosphere Reserves II. Creation of the Caribbean Small Island States Network of Biosphere Reserves III. Implementation of best practice projects IV. Creating awareness and promoting the MAB programme on Biosphere Reserves Preparation and presentation of new Biosphere Reserves By using appropriate consultancy, all participating countries will be able to prepare at least one biosphere reserve, to be presented to UNESCO s Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences in Paris, France. Creation of the Caribbean Small Island States Network of Biosphere Reserves Each country will receive sufficient support and training in order to be able to establish a biosphere reserve. Implementation of best practice projects Based on models already established world wide, best practices will be identified in order to be presented at national seminars and ministerial meetings foe the preparation of national best practices. Creating awareness and promoting the MAB programme on Biosphere Reserves Awareness raising seminars and public hearings are very important tools within the preparation process of a new biosphere reserve. Only if the population totally agrees to the creation of a new biosphere reserve, the success of its implementation will be guaranteed. Therefore, the Action Plan foresees a series of these events in the creation process of biosphere reserves. 4.3 Visibility of the Action Plan It is envisaged that the Action Plan activities will be carried out in a systematic way to ensure that the desired sustainable change is achieved and experienced by all stakeholders, which subsequently will ensure the visibility of the project. The first and major activity of the Action Plan will be to generate a project document and to seek for extrabudgetary funding in order to support all planned activities. Then, it is envisaged to create 8
or build awareness on the needs to establish biosphere reserves. This will be done using a bottom-up approach and through individual stakeholder consultation. The desire to change the situation will be created among those affected through multi stakeholder workshops. The print and radio media will also be used to publicize information to a larger group of people. Communication and information sharing will be established and maintained throughout the duration of the project implementation, using the local and national media, such as the radio, newspapers and television. Members of the communities will be fully involved in the creation of the biosphere reserve if needed trained and equipped with knowledge to enable them take the appropriate decisions. Developing and training the locals in other economically and environmentally sustainable income generating activities will reinforce their ability for change. successfully, the visibility of the project as whole will be achieved. If all these steps are undertaken At the end of the Action Plan, the creation of the sites and consequently of the network will lead to the holding of a ministerial conference that will largely distribute the information in the sub-region and, thus, contribute largely to its visibility. It is envisaged that this Ministerial conference would be held in one country of the network. SECTION V SUSTAINABILITY Countries participating in this project will receive sufficient training and support in order to achieve the sustainability of the newly created biosphere reserves. As the management of these sites will under the responsibility of the Government Institutions, the future of the sites is guaranteed be the international agreement that the countries undergo with UNESCO. Once the biosphere reserves established, countries can always seek support from UNESCO and its partners in order to achieve the goals of the sites. 9
SECTION VI WORK PLAN TIMELINE 36 Months Activities 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Compilation of information about existing BR, MAB National Committees and other relevant initiatives under the MAB framework x x xx xx Identification of key actors and stakeholders (public and NGO s) xx x x x x Preparation and organization of International Conferences (including ministerial) xx x x xx xx xx xx Technical assistance in supporting the Establishment of the Network of BR/MAB National Committees xx xx xx xx Identification of potential sites for nomination as biosphere reserve xx x x xx xx xx Preparation of nomination forms for the new biosphere xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx Identification, selection and implementation of best practice projects Awareness raising seminars and public hearings in the aim of the BR creation processes Preparation and edition of the Book including the best practices examples xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx Action Plan progress reports xx xx xx xx xx xx 10
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